Mayor Highlights Emergency Preparedness on 1906 Quake Anniversary

As the City prepares to commemorate the 105thanniversary of the 1906 Great Earthquake and Fire, Mayor Edwin M. Lee who presided over his first Disaster Council meeting today highlighted earthquake and emergency preparedness. In the wake of the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Mayor Lee, Department of Emergency Management Executive Director Anne Kronenberg and Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White emphasized the need for San Franciscans to be prepared for any type of disaster or emergency.

“Recent earthquakes in Northern Japan and New Zealand are all too clear reminders that we must continue to prepare for the next major earthquake,” said Mayor Lee. “It’s not a question of ‘if’ but ‘when’ the next major earthquake will hit this region, and as we commemorate the 1906 earthquake, we need to reaffirm our commitment to making emergency preparedness an everyday part of our lives. Even with all the progress we are making to seismically upgrade our hospitals, our water system and our critical infrastructure, every single family needs to be prepared for the next major earthquake. We need to all be ready.” Read more.